Canadian Huynh elected chair of FILA athlete commission

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The Canadian Press10/22/2013 5:25:42 PM

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CORSIER-SUR VEVEY, Switzerland -- Canadian wrestler Carol Huynh was elected chair of the newly formed FILA Athlete Commission on Tuesday.

Huynh, who won Olympic gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing, will represent the sport's athletes on the FILA Bureau. She becomes the third woman on the organization's (International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles) governing body.

"It's a great honour to have been elected by my peers to be on the athletes' commission and to represent them on the FILA Bureau," Huynh said. "It is an even greater responsibility to ensure that the athletes' voice is heard. My goal as athletes' commission representative is to help cultivate an environment in our global wrestling community in which our athletes take an active role and interest in the governance of our sport."

"This role in governance for athletes is an important step for FILA," Huynh added. "It indicates that athletes are the main focus. With the collaboration of my fellow athletes' commission members, I have high hopes and confidence in the direction of our new FILA."

Huynh, who grew up in Hazelton, B.C., was part of the five-person team that presented wrestling's case to the International Olympic Committee last month in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The IOC later announced that the sport would rejoin the Olympic program.

Huynh, who also won Olympic bronze at the 2012 Games in London, was inducted into the FILA Hall of Fame last month.